Sometimes the most liberating experiences are the unsought ones. In Chopin's stories: “The Story of an Hour” and “The Tempest”, we are exposed to different points of view on liberation. The opportunity to venture with or without someone will be further elaborated. Furthermore, the act of gaining something is not necessarily always accomplished through addition. In Kate Chopin's “The Story of an Hour,” Mrs. Mallard was a woman trapped in a marriage. You quickly realize exactly what kind of marriage and level of confinement he was in. When Mrs. Mallard learns of her husband's death, “It was his sister Josephine who told him, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed themselves by half concealing” (Chopin 82). His reaction initially isn't out of the ordinary. “He cried immediately, with sudden, wild abandon, in his sister's arms” (82). Obviously the pain and sadness would take over. As soon as Mrs. Mallard entered a bedroom, the door closed behind her. No one would understand what he was going through. There is no time frame for recovery, but suddenly the idea of ​​freedom would take over. “There would be no one to live for her in the years to come; it would live for itself” (83). A woman, who loved her husband, finally manages to give herself what she never had; Love. “He said it over and over again in an undertone: free, free, free! (82). In a society where women followed suit, Mrs. Mallard was finally able to live for herself. With the passing of her husband she gained her independence. Faint at heart, Mrs. Mallard was full of spirit and ready to take on the world. How ironic that the man who once held her prisoner was able to free her. Unknown to her, Mr. Mallard was not attending the parish: "It was Mr. Mallard who came in, a little traveller... middle of paper... on the verge of marriage, for only she knew what he was doing." had done.Mrs. Mallard and Calixta were two women living in an era dominated primarily by men. Neither woman had control in their personal lives or in different scenarios. They both relished control and the ability to be free. Mrs. Mallard had a glimpse of freedom that would last the rest of her life; while Calixta had a small window of time to free herself momentarily. With their choice of actions, both women spontaneously thought only of themselves and went against the principles of society. Works Cited Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell, eds. Literature: read, react, write, compact 5a. Boston, MA: Heinle 2004. 82-83 Print. Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. Models for College Writing: A Reader and Rhetorical Guide, 11. Boston, Massachusetts: Bedford/St. Martins 190-194 Print.